Otto the Ornament by Troy Cummings - ESSENTIAL

Otto the Ornament by Troy Cummings. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2023. $13. 9780593481202 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

When the new ornament doesn’t get the praise and adoration that he expects from the other ornament, he takes off to the find the tree he deserves. 

 Troy Cummings is a picture book genius! The purple glitter on the front of the book doesn’t hurt, but it is really the message that hits on the last page that will help this adorable book endure after other Christmas books have been retired. 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

I Found a Kitty! by Troy Cummings - ESSENTIAL

I Found a Kitty! by Troy Cummings. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2020. $18. 9781984831866

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Arfy the dog has found his forever home and now he wants to help the lost kitty he found.  He tries writing letters and testing the kitty at several places, but nothing seems to be the right place.  They will have to be creative to find this kitty its own forever home.

Parents will be grateful for an animal adoption book that doesn’t end with their kids clamoring to adopt a pet.  Instead Cummings using his humor and art to show that there are many places that adoptable pets can live.  Love it!

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings - ESSENTIAL

Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings PICTURE BOOK Penguin Random House, 2018. $17. 9780399554520

EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Arfy needs a home, so he starts writing letters asking the people at each place along Butternut Street if they need a dog - including the butcher, the junk yard, even the scary house that looks abandoned, but everyone turns him down, until he gets an unexpected answer! 

This is the sweetest book! What a great way to introduce the plight of homeless pets! Do I sound like I'm gushing? I am! Woooooo! Arfy is adorable, the letters are great examples of good letter writing - well, the dog's are. The illustrations are large and expressive - get this book for your library, even the middle schoolers will appreciate this terrific story.

Lisa Morey

The Binder of Doom by Troy Cummings - ADVISABLE

The Binder of Doom by Troy Cummings, 90 pages. CHAPTER BOOK. Scholastic, 2019. $16

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Alexander Bopp is back at his adventures when he meets up with his monster fighting friends at the summer school program. During a sleepover, they share all of the clues they had been gathering and discover a new onslaught of monsters.

This book is easy to access for new readers. It includes a lot of pictures and the chapters are short. There isn’t much depth to the characters or their relationships, but the plot is fast paced.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

VROOM VROOM: Garbage Truck by Asia Citro - ESSENTIAL

VROOM VROOM: Garbage Truck by Asia Citro and Troy Cummings.  BOARD BOOK.  Innovation, 2018.  $9. 9781943147434

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Follow an intrepid garbage truck through its busy day keeping the streets clean.

I love that CItro uses only onomatopoeia for the garbage truck’s many actions.  Cummings illustrations add the perfect note for a fun read aloud.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Arfy Has a Ball by Troy Cummings - ADVISABLE

Arfy Has a Ball by Troy Cummings. PICTURE BOOK Penguin Random House, 2024. $6. 9780593643730  

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Arfy the dog is looking for a new ball. He tries several different options until finding the right ball. 

Cute illustrations. Simple, repetitive word structure. Perfect for a new reader. 

Reviewer: A. Snow